MORE SHIPS IDLE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 May 1928, Page 5

MORE SHIPS IDLE

OWNERS’ LATEST MOVE.

POUR TO BE LAID UP. FIGHT lON JOB CONTROL. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY. May 14. The crew of the Huddart-Parker steamer Moorabool were paid off today and the vessel was tied up. At Melbourne a. special meeting of shipowners considered a telegram from the Cooks’ Union suggesting the settlement of the dispute on the terms that the men resume immediately under the suspended award, the question of the roster to be' a subject of conference', if required, after the resumption, the terms to be subject to ratification at a meeting of the cooks on Tuesday. The telegram concluded, by requesting an extension of time for resumption until Wednesday. The shipowners replied by referring the men to the ultimatum that the men must resume by Monday, adding that the owners in any case will insist on the free selection of men and. a total abandoment of the roster system and upon their right- to engage men with good discharges at the ships’ sides or elsewhere.

The union further telegraphed requesting an extension of time, and suggesting that if that were granted the representative of the men would immediately go to Melbourne to discuss the terms of settlement.

The owners refused, stating that the ultimatum, expired to-night, and no extension would be granted. A Maritime Union conference under the auspices of the Australasian Council of Trades Pnion met to consider a settlement, but adjourned till to-mor-row Lo enable Mr. Tudhope to attend.

Received 9.30 a.m. to-dav. SYDNEY. Ma-v 15

Owing to the failure of the marine cooks to' man the eight idle Hud dart Parker vessels, .shipowners have .taken the extreme course of laying -up four additional vessels, and 24 hours’ notice of dismissal, has been given to the crews of the following vessels: Karoola. and Ulooloo. both in Sydney, and Boombala and Lownna, both at Melbourne.

ft is 'significant, that the principal members of the Inter-State Shipowners’ Federation are concerned in the latevst move, while the Australian United Steamship Navigation Company became involved when the Konowna was hold up. The general belief :is that the iship ownerw intend to take up the gauntle. and fight the cooks on job control. The Mamma, iMaunganm and Kaiapoi, which aie on New Zealand l article's, arc not li'kelr to be drawn into the conflict, but the Union Company’s other vessels. Ngakuta and Ngaioro, which .leave Sydney to-day oh Australian articles, aie so far not affected. No official reason has been green by the ship owners for their action -beyond a_ statement that it accords' with their ultimatum. and that they are being forced to lay up the steamers owing to the uncertain position on the waterfront. A meeting of the marine stewards is being held in Sydney to-day to discuss the position and' also the voile of the Commonwealth Lne. as it- is reported that t-hp crews of this line are being paid off lv* Kylsants on arniva- 1 ; at Tondon and replaced with lower paid crews, the Australians being repatriated.

No reoresemtative of the Cooks’ Union attended the Melbourne conference of the Australasian Traders’ Unions yesterday, which has been adjourned till. 'Wednesday at the .reqursst of Mr Tudebope, who arrived in Sydney from Brisbane yesterday, and has left for Melbourne.